Xubuntu 15.04 OS / Parole Media Player

Found a flaw either in:

1. Xubuntu 15.04 OS; or

2. Parole Media Player;

when shifting cursor over black background of Parole Media Player, the cursor 'disappears.' 

Must flick mouse around until one accidentally hits on the  Parole sound adjustment button (white background).

Unpleasant 'lost' feeling & navigation hard. 

Weird.  Not sure what the problem is.

As it's free, I can live with it.  ;)

Synaptic Package Manager & Gufw

Downloading

Synaptic Package Manager

through the Ubuntu Software Centre.

"Synaptic is a graphical front-end to apt, the package management system in Ubuntu. It combines the point-and-click simplicity of the graphical user interface with the power of the apt-get command line tool.

You can install, remove, configure, or upgrade software packages, browse, sort and search the list of available software packages, manage repositories, or upgrade the whole system.

You can queue up a number of actions before you execute them. Synaptic will inform you about dependencies (additional packages required by the software package you have chosen) as well as conflicts with other packages that are already installed on your system."

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto?action=show&redirect=Synaptic

Prelude to - Next Step:

Gufw is a firewall powered by UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall).

Installation

In order to install Gufw, you must have the Universe repository enabled. To install, use Synaptic, or run from Terminal: 

sudo apt-get install gufw

As I've been too lazy to fully grasp rules of running terminal commands, I'm downloading the graphics interface firewall thingy - here.

Or, that's the plan at this stage.

But maybe this step is a waste of time, because I can't see myself writing rules for the firewall.  lol

Xubuntu 15.04 & UFW (Firewall)

Was having problems with Zorin 9.

Maybe my not knowing what I'm doing was the problem.

Display started messing up.  Lived around that.

Switching from window to window, display would be sort of jig-saw scrambled and 'bleeding through' before adjusting if you flicked screens enough or (oddly) pressed the print screen button to 'break' whatever the problem was.

The next problem:  YouTube videos and audio stopped playing.

Rather than reinstall the same OS, I chose to make a switch.

Picked Xubuntu 15.04 (April 2015 release) - here.

Loads of thought didn't go into the selection:  it was just the first I'd downloaded and burnt onto disc.

Managed to mess this up almost right away by mindlessly running a line command re the graphics driver (which I didn't need to do) ... and got a scary !warning! which freaked me.

Thought I'd try some other OS to see if I like it ... went for Linux Mint.  But that one kept dying on me before I could adjust the graphics driver.  

Reloaded Xubuntu 15.04.

It feels OK.  Don't mind how it looks.  Think I can get to like it.

Been messing around on it for maybe a couple of days or something like that, before remembering to check that the firewall's turned on.

For status check:

sudo ufw status verbose

WTF!  Firewall inactive.  Geez, you'd think developers would automate this.  But they don't.

Ran the activation command:

sudo ufw enable

Subsequent check shows:

tokyo@tokyo:~$ sudo ufw status verbose
[sudo] password for tokyo:
Status: active
Logging: on (low)
Default: deny (incoming), allow (outgoing), disabled (routed)
New profiles: skip
tokyo@tokyo:~$

No idea what it means, but UFW's working.  

UFW is 'Uncomplicated Firewall' - here.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Download Xubuntu 15.04
http://xubuntu.org/

Max Zorin - Character

"Max Zorin is a former KGB agent and industrialist from the 1985 film A View to a Kill. He is the primary villain and is played by actor Christopher Walken."

Max Zorin in A View To A Kill (1985)

This came up in conversation.  I had no idea there was a Zorin character. 

Wonder if 'Zorin' is the Russian-Irish developers' (yes, two of them - bros) real surname, or if it was selected from the James Bond film, book or whatever.

Years since I've seen James Bond movies.  Don't even remember one.

Just remember a smug guy I didn't like. 

I think I always wanted the villains to win.  lol

Like Walken (probably because he played a villain) ... but I can't remember which film of his I would have seen.

Zorin - Love/Hate Thing Happening

The problems I've had (which may not be Zorin & could be due to other reasons):

• frequent Firefox crashing - lots of open windows & playing YouTube videos may have something to do with it?

• display - major f*ck-up - the open windows 'bleed' into one another and there's almost a jigsaw effect until the buggy thing is 'broken' with multiples of back and forth clicking to switch windows; F5 / reload or hanging on the scroll button like crazy; or 

• ... a really weird option that works best:  print-screen button (yes, lots of unwanted screen capture going on ... lol), but it 'breaks' whatever is stuffing up display when switching screens.

• Discovered the print-screen remedy, as I was going to capture an image of the screen to complain to all about the garbled mess I get.

That's it for the problem side of things.

Things I'd like:

Wider scroll bar thingy, right hand side, blue.  I'm not into precision anything.  Big is good for me (but not too bit, as I find that annoying also ... lol).

Ummmm ... that would have to be a Blogger ask, I think. Maybe even Modzilla. But not Zorin. Got confused about where I was re the scroll bar, thinking I'm in Zorin when it's a Blogger scroll bar.

No, change again.  The notes program scrollbar is on the thin side like the Blogger scrollbar.  What's with narrow, minuscule scrollbars, guys? I'm basically lazy and don't like straining my hand being precise. 

Right click functionality re delete, rename etc, when I'm entering folders from avenues other than the documents option or whatever.

Eg.  If I'm about to load a photo from my computer onto somewhere else and notice that the name of the file isn't one I'm happy with and want to change, I'd like to be able to right-click and change the name, delete or move the file (as and when I see the necessity), rather than having to stop what I'm doing and access that function via the documents icon etc.

The wants aren't a huge deal seeing this is freebie software, but the wants would make it better (for me).

[ Not proof reading this - got to run.  lol ]

Cookie Consent - Script - Widget

Cookie Consent

Free and open source

 

 https://silktide.com/tools/cookie-consent/

The above cookie consent script gadget results worked when pasted into template of another blog I have happening ...

Expected this to have options, such as 'not now', 'dismiss' (or whatever), but it only has a 'yes' button.

Oh, well.  At least it's a notice.

The widget isn't taking in *this* blog template.  

Tried again and maybe wasted half an hour of fiddling around.

I'll have to make do with the lame notice I've got set up above.

Not sure what to do in long-term.  I'm not really keen to devote any more time to extensive cookie consent widget research. 

Search Box Widget - Blogger

"Add 6 Stylish Custom Search Boxes To Blogger"

http://helplogger.blogspot.com/2014/10/6-custom-search-boxes--for-blogger.html

Found this useful, as the 'in-house' Blogger search widget wasn't working for me (on another blog I have set up).

Now it works.  ;)

Zorin OS - Buggy / 'Sticking' - While Switching Between Open Windows

Zorin's driving me nuts.

Don't know if it's something to do with disabling Javascript or not, but I've developed some kind of buggy thing where,  switching screens, the OS just kind of 'sticks' and I'm left clicking various open windows to get a window up.

Also need to then fiddle with scrolling to 'straighten' out the result, that shows an overlap of contents from other open windows, in the selected window.

Hoping I won't have to re-install the OS, because I didn't back up.  I can save my stuff, but the system settings are going to get screwed up.

Not happy.

PS 

Think Zorin's scroll bar size is a bit small.  Precision is an effort for me.  A wider button would have been better, I think.

Blogger - Back Up Templates & Posts

Thought I'd better update my back-ups of templates & posts.

Been so long, I couldn't remember how.

Instructions:

POSTS

 

"Export your blog

When you export your blog, you get an .xml file of the posts and comments. After you export it, you'll still see it on your dashboard.

1. Sign in to blogger.com.
2. Click the name of the blog you want to export.
3. On the left side of the page, click Settings > Other.
4. In the "Blog tools" section, click Export blog > Download blog."

TEMPLATE

"Tip: If you want to save a copy of your blog's template, go to the "Template" tab and click Backup/restore."

SOURCE
https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/97416?hl=en


For downloading templates:

After you select the 'Templates' tag:

> top right-hand corner of screen is a 'back-up/restore' button.
> Select that.
> Save file to hard disk.

IMPORT BLOG instructions are on the same link (above).

Update Firefox

Exploit in Firefox.
Searches for sensitive documents & uploads them to server in Ukraine.

Couldn't remember how to update & didn't know whether I needed to, or if it was done with the auto updates that were processed over the last few hours.

Found this. Opted for line command.

But I'm not sure it's done the trick, as I still have my bookmarks.

Update Firefox on Ubuntu / Debian Linux

You can use APT package handling utility i.e. apt-get command. You can also use a GUI package tool called Update Manager:

Just type the following two commands at terminal:

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install firefox

You can also use GUI tool:

Click on

System >
Administration >
Update Manger > 

Click on Check button see for updates

SOURCE
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/upgrade-firefox-on-linux/

Cookies Plug-in

Cookies notification plug-in script has been pasted to Blogger template, but it is *not* appearing on screen.

Doing my head in.

Might have something to do with 'save' seemingly not taking - ie when 'save' selected nothing happens (as in no 'saved' notification & option to view update), although plug-in *has* been saved to template.

Same plug-in works on other templates.

Don't know what's going on there.  Might have to leave it for time being.

Finding: Synaptic

http://www.nongnu.org/synaptic/

Screen shots look good.

Link [  https://packages.debian.org/unstable/admin/synaptic.html  ]
returns:  "No such package"

Zorin Forum says Synaptic is pre-installed on Zorin OS.

Ubuntu says:

Synaptic is a graphical front-end to apt, the package management system in Ubuntu. It combines ... simplicity of the graphical user interface with the power of the apt-get command line tool.

Graphics sounds good.  Gimme, gimme, gimme.

Where is it?

Did not like my improvised:  synaptic -version

** (synaptic:31182): WARNING **: Can't load fallback CSS resource: Failed to import: The resource at '/org/gnome/adwaita/gtk-fallback.css' does not exist

** (synaptic:31182): WARNING **: Can't load fallback CSS resource: Failed to import: The resource at '/org/gnome/adwaita/gtk-fallback.css' does not exist

Guessing it's not loaded on this OS?

Checked the Zorin Software Manager:

Synaptic Package Manager is there.  Do I wish to remove?

Nope.  But I tick options I might need on a guess basis & wait for auto-update.

OMG!!!!  I found it:

>Zorin Menu
>System Tools
>Admin
>Synaptic Package Manager 

OMG!  This is so much easier.

Marked up x4 messaging plug-ins for installation.  Told it to update & it did!

Adobe Flash plug-in isn't ticked, so I guess it's not installed.
Couple of other things are ticked, under the Adobe tag, but I don't know that this has anything to do with Flash - so I think I should be good.

Java was a big more complicated.  Masses of Java.  Not sure what deal is.

eg.  'JavaScript Library for Dynamic Web Applications'

Helps if you know what this is.  Likewise with engine libraries and object something wrappers.  Can I live without the 'syntax highlighting widget'?

Tempted to get rid of the lot, but then I'll find myself having to install the OS all over again.

Back to not knowing what I'm doing.  LOL

Package Tracker - Flash, Java, Gdebi, Synaptic

Finding the search for info on the internet somewhat frustrating. 

Too much information, for my quick-fix aims.

Losing track of what I'm doing.  Seriously.  

Reading some forum, blog or article or other, I'll run a command, install or remove a program ... and then find myself wondering what it was that I did, whether it was enough and so on.

FLASH

Take Adobe Flash Player:  I removed with a sudo command, but haven't checked to make sure it is indeed gone.

Somewhat confused about dependencies. Not sure if they're separate programs that rely on a given program, or whether dependencies are off-shoots of primary/key programs.  But I am rather lazy and haven't really done much in the way of reading.

Anyway, I'm sort of stuck wondering if Flash is gone and how to verify that.

Then there's the question of installing/enabling alternatives to Flash.  

Do you or don't you?  Browser appears to have what I assume are inbuilt alternatives.  But there's also the alternatives mentioned in an earlier post, that might be worthwhile considering.

JAVA


Seeing Java's full of holes, I figure it's not worth having.

So I go ahead and remove - or I think I remove.  But I'm not sure it's gone.

When I run:  java -version command, terminal throws up:

the program 'java' can be found in the following packages:
 * default-jre
 * gcj-4.8-jre-headless
 * openjdk-7-jre-headless
 * gcj-4.6-jre-headless
 * openjdk-6-jre-headless
Try: sudo apt-get install <selected package>

So I'm going to guess that Java's not gone & I have to figure how to remove, entirely.

JUNK DOWNLOADS

Fiddling around, I downloaded some crap I somehow don't think I really want.  Can't even remember what it was now.  Some Red Hat thing, I think it was.  So that's another mess I have to sort out - maybe.  Otherwise, I can just ignore it, and tackle removal when I know what I'm doing ... and find out what it was (ummm, because I didn't take notes & can't remember / although I think there's  a command to list programs somewhere):

 sudo dpkg -list

RUN RESULT

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use 'apt' or 'aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through 'less' or 'more' !

GENERAL COMMANDS

Then I thought I'd check out the Zorin forum, generally before moving onto specifics:

Any 3rd party packages that you might want to install should end with ".deb" or "all.deb" and should downloaded from a known and verified source/location
 

[ie download from safe download site]

Select correct package for 32-bit or 64-bit.

http://pkgs.org/

For installing single packages, install the app "Gdebi"

sudo apt-get install gdebi

The link meant nothing to me.  Don't know what I'm looking at at the link.

But I think, hey, I can do with a single-package install thingy.  So I load gdebi. 

Back to the forum:

Do not try and use "rpm" packages if you possibly can as they are designed for another type of packaging system (Redhat Package Manager)

To convert RPM packages to DEB packages, use "Alien":

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RPM/AlienHowto

Hmmm ... don't think I'll be tackling Alien any time soon.

But this did grab my attention & Synaptic looks like a good plan:

sudo apt-get remove [specify program]

The above will only remove the main body of the app but not its dependencies in case there are other packages relying on those dependencies!!.

This can also be done via Synaptic by opening Synaptic and typing the name of the app in search and right click it and mark it for complete removal!.

Hey, this is where Java removal went wrong (I think)!

So now I can either mess around downloading Synaptic ... or I can try to find instructions for manual commands to remove dependencies (I think).

I'm sure this is heaps easier once you know what you're doing.  But it's a little weird at first.


------------------


SOURCE - Orange Highlighted Text
source:  http://zoringroup.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1778

Ditching Adobe Flash Player?

Alternatives To Adobe Flash Player

http://www.transitionblog.com/4-most-amazing-alternatives-to-adobe-flash-player/ 

Adobe Flash Player
= developed by Macromedia
= software for viewing multimedia
= used in almost all games
= used in Graphic User Interfaces (GUIs) & animations, with java applets

SUMMARY
 
ALTERNATIVES TO ADOBE FLASH PLAYER

LightSpark
= C language developed
= open source flash player & browser plugin 
= supported all new Flash Player formats
= only runs on Linux OS

Unity Web Player
= Windows and Mac OS X
= can replace Adobe Flash Player easily.
= can use for developing 3D games with animated characters & graphics

GNU Gnash
= free
= Windows, Linux, BSD etc
= can support attributes of SWF v7, SWF v8 & SWF v9

Silverlight
= based on .NET framework
= compatible with almost every web browser, mobile devices & various OS
= can use to develop & create responsive web & mob applications

---------------------
COMMENT

Sick of not being above to view videos, so I checked out alternatives to Flash Player.

Not sure whether I should mess around trying to install, or let it be.

Adobe Flash Player - Full of Holes: Zero-Day Exploits x3 - Leaked from Hacking Team Cache

Third Adobe Flash zero-day exploit (CVE-2015-5123) leaked from Hacking Team cache

Exploits continue to leak from the Hacking Team breach, as the latest unpatched Adobe Flash Player bug comes from the stolen cache.

http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/third-adobe-flash-zero-day-exploit-cve-2015-5123-leaked-hacking-team-cache

*latest vulnerability (CVE-2015-5123) / patch to follow

*related vulnerability (CVE-2015-5122)

= bugs affect newest versions of Adobe Flash Player (18.0.0.203) running on Windows & Mac OS X computers 

= also affect:  Adobe Flash Player (18.0.0.204) on Linux-based computers running Google Chrome web browser

* likely risk of vulnerability use in cyberattacks next few days / disable adobe flash player

MORE 

(CVE-2015-5122)

**vulnerability can be successfully exploited with the leaked proof-of-concept (PoC) code on the most recent version of Adobe Flash Player (18.0.0.203) in Internet Explorer. A successful exploitation could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to compromise the affected computer.  [*] 

**may be possible that this vulnerability has previously been exploited in the wild in limited attacks, because the details of the vulnerability are now publicly available, attackers will likely incorporate the exploit into the exploit kits in the coming days. [*] 

---------------------

 COMMENT

Modzilla Firefox automatically disables the Adobe Flash, which is lucky, as it wouldn't have occurred to me to manually do that for protection.

What I don't understand is how it all works.

It looks like hackers have tools (exploit kits) and whenever something new becomes public, it must become the tool to use until the patch comes in.

Having trouble finding out what 'proof of concept code' is, but I think it is just code that shows a how to break into systems given a specific vulnerability.

In the case of Microsoft, a number of security companies get advance warnings of exploits, by way of advance patch notifications.  Notification is issued ahead of release to give security companies time to "prioritize and test the fixes before installing them." [***]

In 2012, it was one of these security companies that leaked "proof-of-concept" code. [***]

Here's the coolest bit:  

Once the patches come out, hackers can reverse-engineer them to figure out what problems they solve, then produce tools to break into unpatched systems. [***]  

So the most vulnerable time would be just after the patches come out, if people haven't installed patches.

Looks like individuals who find flaws:

*submitted findings & proof-of-concept to a security group 

*security group tests & vets the research

*security group then submits the proof of concept / findings to the software developer.

*software developer makes a patch

*hackers reverse engineer patch

That satisfies my curiosity to a degree, but I'm still curious how it actually works.

GIF - CAT

'Puter Cat gif needs more work.

And cat needs to move around rather than just objects.

But I'm sort of over it for now.

Blogger Template Teak - Horizontal Rule

Borrowed from here:

http://webdesignexperiments.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-to-add-horizontal-line-rule-to.html


Added this:

LINE 1449

<hr align="center" color="silver" size="4" width="50%"></hr>

LINE 1508

<hr align="center" color="green" size="4" width="100%"></hr>

RESULT

It's given me a silver marker at the end of posts, as well as a green one between posts.


---------------------
COMMENT

Did this by trial & error method, as I don't read code well.

Recommend saving a copy of the template beforehand, as it's easy to accidentally overwrite code.

Didn't do it this time because it seemed such a small job.  Should have.  There was a moment of concern.

Another reason I love Blogger.  Can't do this type of edit in free version of Wordpress, I believe.

LINUX - Debian - Software Installation - Overview

Identity / Permissions

SuperUser

• Users have permission to view, edit, & execute  (files, folders or programs)
• 'SuperUser' = Unix term, synonymous with: root  {no restrictions}
• never log on as root account, unless you have to {potential disaster}
• log on as root = loss of all default security protections that Linux provides

ALTERNATIVE to root = SuperUser Command

[user]$ sudo ls 

Password:***** 

Hash (#) rather than dollar ($) sign
indicative of SuperUser mode at command prompt

If problem with above, see section 'configuring sudo' & try:

[user]$ suPassword:*****
[root]#

some programs usually run as root
=  may appear to be missing

reason:  list of places Linux looks for executables (PATH environment variable), does not contain /sbin or /usr/sbin

Solution:  keying in full path for commands
eg.  for command like shutdown
Alternative:   /sbin/shutdown

EXIT SuperUser Mode

[root]# exit
[user]$

---------------------

LINUX

= several kinds of packages
= each distribution has its own preferred package format

STANDARD LINUX PACKAGES
= standard package format:  RPM (as per Linux Standard Base)
= RPM (Red Hat developed - used: Fedora, Mandriva, Red Hat, SUSE)
= RPM package file name eg:  program-version-other.rpm

DEBIAN PACKAGES - APT (Advanced Packaging Tool)
= first to intro:  automatic dependency resolution & signed packages
= used by Debian GNU/Linux & distributions based on it, eg. Ubuntu, Knoppix, & Mepis.
= Debian package file name eg: program-version-other.deb

*need to become SuperUser to install software

DEBIAN COMMANDS
Protocol:
1) Sign in as SuperUser
2) install
3) update package database
4) upgrade all packages that have patches or security updates to install
5) Exit SuperUser mode

ENTER SuperUser Mode

[user]$ sudo ls 

Password:***** 

1. INSTALL

apt-get install ${packagename}

2. UPDATE

apt-get update

3. UPGRADE - GLOBAL

apt-get update; apt-get upgrade

EXIT SuperUser Mode

[root]# exit
[user]$

4. REMOVE

apt-get remove ${packagename}

---------------------

SOURCE
http://www.control-escape.com/linux/lx-swinstall.htm 

ImageMagick - Download & Install

IMAGEMAGICK

"software suite to create, edit, compose, or convert bitmap images"

download

www.imagemagick.org/download/ImageMagick.tar.gz

Unpack

tar xvzf ImageMagick.tar.gz

configure

 cd ImageMagick-6.9.1
 ./configure
 make


If ImageMagick configured & compiled without probs, ready to install it on system.

Install

sudo make install

configure the dynamic linker run-time bindings

sudo ldconfig /usr/local/lib

verify the ImageMagick install worked properly.

/usr/local/bin/convert logo: logo.gif

For a more comprehensive test, run the ImageMagick validation suite.
Ghostscript is a prerequisite, otherwise the EPS, PS, and PDF tests will fail.

make check

---------------------
SOURCE

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
http://www.imagemagick.org/script/install-source.php

FEATURES
http://imagemagick.org/script/index.php


---------------------
COMMENT

So whatever happened to the three-step Linux install method?

Confused that this is yet another installation method.

Uncertain re proceeding, as I want software linked to the software repository for automatic software updates.

Downloaded the what I guess is the compressed file & it's sitting in a folder on my desktop but that's not what I had in mind.

Might set this aside & think about what I want to do tomorrow. 

It's embarrassing how things seem to make sense while doing notes, and then when you go apply what you think you've understood, it all kind of falls apart and makes no sense at all.

Problem:  to edit the source.list

in order to do things the 'repository way', I need to know what to input into the source.list file & I have no idea.

As I'm already over this and just want to go to sleep, I'd hate to think what the program is going to be like. 

Maybe going through all this is going to be a huge waste of time.

LINUX - Installing Software / Installing Programs

Linux - Advanced Packaging Tool (APT)

Permissions:  prefix = sudo  / if anything doesn't run, put 'sudo' in front 

Summary from:

http://www.howtogeek.com/63997/how-to-install-programs-in-ubuntu-in-the-command-line/

Three-Step Process

1) Add (append / Edit) Repositories

Manually:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Otherwise:

sudo add-apt-repository [repository name here]

eg  -    

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa

2) Update Sources

sudo apt-get update

3) Install

sudo apt-get install [package name 1] [package name 2] [package name n]


Other / Maintenance

Remove Packages

sudo apt-get remove [package name 1] [package name 2] [package name n]

or

remove configuration files & associated directories (purging upon removal results in a subsequent “clean” install):

sudo apt-get remove –purge [package name 1] [package name 2] [package name n]

or

reserve command for removal & associated ones:

sudo apt-get autoremove

Upgrade Software

*update before upgrade

Global command upgrade:

sudo apt-get upgrade


If dependencies error / missing, following to upgrade:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade [package name 1] [package name 2] [package name n]

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Simulate upgrade command to see list of packages to be upgraded (useful to see which programs would be interfered with by package upgrade):

sudo apt-get –s upgrade

 

Clean Cache

delete cache, but save newest version of packages in cache (I prefer this):

sudo apt-get autoclean

delete cache completely

sudo apt-get clean

 

Search Packages 

apt-cache search [search term 1] [search term 2] … [search term n]

eg    apt-cache search time zone python

 

Check Packages Installed

LIST installed packages

    sudo dpkg –list

SCROLL list installed packages

    sudo dpkg –list | less

SEARCH list - grep command

    dpkg –list | grep [search term]

---------------------

SOURCE

Above summary from:
http://www.howtogeek.com/63997/how-to-install-programs-in-ubuntu-in-the-command-line/

*Not entirely clear on the upgrade of software instructions

Bypass Content Copy Protection Script - ie Bypass 'copy-blocking' on websites

Copy Text 

Content Copy-Protect Websites

Modzilla Browser


0.  ULTIMATE METHOD

Browser pull-down menu:

>View
>Page Style
>No Page Style 

>Tools
>Web Developer
>Debugger  
>Tool Box Options  {round cog - right side}
>Advanced Settings
>Disable JavaScript
>Highlight & right-click COPY text, as per normal web page
 

Other Methods Tested before hitting on the best:


1.  Indirect Method - Select Text

Browser pull-down menu:

>View
>Page Style
>No Page Style
>Highlight
>Edit
>Copy
>Paste to text doc. 

2.  Hard Way - Find Text Among Code

Browser pull-down menu:
>Tools
>Web Developer
>Page Source
>find text
>Copy {Edit, Copy - if right-click disabled}
>Paste to text doc.

3.  Harder Way - PDF

>File
>SaveAs - HTML file
>Locate saved HTML
>Right-Click
>Open with LibreOfficeWriter
>Export to PDF


COMMENT

Option 0. Best
Option 1. So-so
Option 2. Wade through code
Option 3. Two saved files (HTML & PDF)

Site I tried to copy from had both right-click & function key disabled.

Copy issue was due to:  Content Copy Protection Plug-in, I believe.



---------------------

More Info:

https://askleo.com/how_do_i_copy_a_copy_protected_web_page/

http://askubuntu.com/questions/320195/how-to-convert-a-html-file-to-pdf-with-colors

Zorin - Screenshot, Screengrab

SCREENSHOT


Plain ScreenGrab

• PRINT-SCREEN button
• SaveAs  {saves PNG by default}

Hard Way

• Press PRINT SCREEN button
• Open GIMP Image Editor
• CTRL-V {to PASTE from Clipboard}
• CTRL-B {for ToolBox}
• edit image
• Export / Export As
• Discard GIMP edit doc

SCREENSHOT EDIT - TAKE 2

GIMP saves files as XCF by default. 

Image for online upload needs to be EXPORTED to correct format file.

Use either default export PNG image file format or select other file format {Export As}.

Blogger takes both JPEG / JPG and the GIMP export default PNG file format.

SCREENSHOT EDIT - TAKE 1

Barely managed to crop image.  Hoped to do the job intuitively, by-passing instructions searching. 

Initially, couldn't save in correct format for web upload.  Wasn't aware of need to export file in a format acceptable for web uploads (PC World site below was a huge help).

Need to spend more time playing with the GIMP image editor, as I don't know how to use it yet. 

Tend to rely quite a bit on online editing tools, so it should be a challenge not to jump online once I have a format I can upload elsewhere.

This site helped: 

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2364480/a-free-photo-editor-worth-trying-getting-started-with-gimp.ht


---------------------
Own edits: 

Applicable to:  Zorin OS 9  (& related Linux)

Update BIOS

BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

While recently tackling the inability to boot from USB, wondered if the BIOS could be updated. Imagined that it was factory set and therefore couldn't be updated. 

Not so.  

Hewlett Packard's site has instructions on updating the BIOS (here).

On the one hand, it sounds very tempting.  On the other hand, sounds likely to end in disaster.

The wrong update or an interruption in the update process can permanently damage the motherboard.

Oddly, HP says not to install BIOS updates from the motherboard manufacturer's site.  Maybe they mean HP-specific updates?

---------------------

Found thorough instructions on performing an update of the BIOS (aka flashing the BIOS).

Don't know how exactly one ensures an uninterrupted power supply.

An interesting read.  Lots of visuals.  But it might be an old article, because they're referring to back-up to floppy.

ww.wikihow.com/Update-Your-Computer's-BIOS

online video/audio conversion

Used the following to convert audio online


http://www.onlinevideoconverter.com/


Easy to use.  Did the job. 

But I'm wondering if I'm leaving myself open to downloading some kind of malware when downloading the conversions.

They're shielded by WHOISGUARD, INC., which has a PO Box in PANAMA.


VirusTotal scan report's clear, except for one entry:  here.


---------------------

Relieved nobody's complaining on their facebook. 

Audio - file formats

Audio File Formats

Format	Quality	Data	Particulars
WAV	Lossless	Uncompressed	Space hungry Universal usage
AIFF	Lossless	Uncompressed	Space hungry Apple usage
FLAC	Lossless	COMPRESSED	aka 'Free Lossless Audio Codec' Sound quality same as source Superior to WAV & AIFF (less space) free & Opensource
ALAC	Lossless	COMPRESSED	Not quite as efficient as FLAC Apple proprietary iTunes & iOS supported
APE	Lossless	HIGHLY COMPRESSED	Sound similar quality as FLAC & ALAC But not widely supported Hard on processor (high compression)
MP3	Lossy	COMPRESSED	MPEG Audio Layer 3 Most efficient format Widely supported Good choice for 'lossy' audio
ACC	Lossy	COMPRESSED	Advanced Audio Coding Similar to MP3 – but more efficient Less space than MP3, same sound Almost as widely compatible as MP3
Vorbis	Lossy	COMPRESSED	aka Ogg Vorbis no patent free and open source alternative to MP3 & AAC fewer players support
WM	Lossy	COMPRESSED	Windows Media Audio Microsoft proprietary format Similar to MP3 & ACC Not widely supported

Audio bitrate 

= kilobits per second (amount data processed)

eg  iTunes

      = 256 kilobits of data per every second of song

Bigger the bitrate, bigger the storage space needed

Compression common for audio CDs (to fit more)

Lossless

= no alteration to original file when compressed 

    (compressed to point before data loss)

'Lossy'

= compressing file to save space, but with loss of data

= loss of clarity and quality

= beneficial to users of iPhones (limited storage capacity)

---------------------

SOURCE

http://lifehacker.com/5810575/does-bitrate-really-make-a-difference-in-my-music

http://lifehacker.com/5927052/whats-the-difference-between-all-these-audio-formats-and-which-one-should-i-use

Motherboard

Motherboard

aka -

• mb
• mainboard
• base board
• main circuit board
• planar board
• system board
• (Apple = 'logic board')

Motherboard is king: 

1. supplies power & 
2. lets other hardware components communicate 

Integrated Circuits (ICs)
= mounted on Motherboard

ICs aka:

• Integrated Chip 
• Microchip
• Bare chip
• Monolithic integrated circuit

Motherboard contains:

• circuits 
• pathways
• transistors 
• + other electronic items 

that do specific function or series of functions

--

Circuitboard
= 1936, radio

Integrated Circuits
= 1952 British radar engineer concept
= 1958 developed USA, see hand calculator & Intel

 ---------------------

 SOURCE http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/p/pcb.htm

DETAILED DIAGRAM & Links to info on components of motherboard:
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/m/mothboar.htm

Hardware: Hard Disk Drive

Hard Disk Drive (Hard Drive)

aka HD, HDD
b.  1956

=  two sizes:

*  5.25 in  - desktop
*  3.50 in  - laptop

Must be 100% dust-free
Encased:  platters sealed in airtight case (partially in vacuum)
Sealed chamber = 'hard disk assembly' (HDA)

Consists of:

• Case
• Chassis
• Controller / Circuitboard ('middle man' between Actuator & OS)
• Actuator
• Read/Write Actuator Arm
• Read/Write Heads
• Spindle (at centre)
• Platter(s)
• (multiple platters form a 'cylinder')
• connected to Motherboard (via ATA, SCI or SATA cable)

*powered by PSU (power supply unit, on back of HDD via circuitboard (Disk Controller)

Platters

Platter = flat, round,discs

base material must be non-magnetic
base material usually aluminium or ceramic/glass
base material - glass increasingly used (heat resistance / thinner)

base material must be capable of being machined/polished smooth
base material, glass trending (heat resistance + makes thinner platters)

Platter both sides of platter coated with magnetic surface

• formerly:  magnetic oxide
• now:  thin-film medium (magnetic metal)

Two or three platters are stacked
in between:  gap for read/write heads (mounted on end of actuator arm)
Read/write head for each side of each platter
Read/write head moves from outer edge of platter towards centre/spindle.
Platters share common 'spindle'
Spindle turns platters at rate of abt several 1,000 revolutions per min
Read/write heads hover, abt 0.07mm away from platter surface

Read/Write Heads

Read/write heads rest on platters
(when PC powered down & drive stops spinning)

Read/write heads rest on dedicated area (no data stored):  'landing zone' (LZ)

HD lives in the 'drive bay'.
HD connected to Motherboard, via ATA, SCI or SATA cable connections
HD powered by PSU (power supply unit)
On back HD = circuitboard (disk controller (DC), data sent to/from HD via DC)

OS examines HD FAT (file allocation table)
FAT = location & available HD areas info
Disk controller directs actuator to move & align R/W heads
R/W heads deal in binary info (zeros + ones)

Solid State Drives (SSDs)
are the go currently
*HDD remains in use desktops (b/c superior storage capacity)
HD unit positioned in:  'drive bay' (an allocated spot)



---------------------

SOURCE

http://www.pctechguide.com/hard-disks/hard-disk-hard-drive-construction

http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/harddriv.htm